Training and Dissemination

In February, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Mark Takano (D-CA) and Steve Stockman (R-TX) introduced a new bill, the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act[H.R. 4040], to enhance education for students with sensory disabilities. The bill would ensure children who are blind, have low vision or are deaf or hard of hearing are provided with proper evaluation of their educational needs and qualified teachers to meet those needs....

In January,The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Policy Statement Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) regarding the rollout of text-to-911. , the FCC urged Commercial Mobile Radio Service providers as well as providers of other text messaging services to enable text-to-911 for their consumers.

Complementing...

In November, the United States District Court found that New York City failed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities when planning for and responding to disasters in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The court highlighted that the plan does not include provisions for the accessibility of transportation, emergency shelters, or emergency communications for people with disabilities. Although the case only holds the City liable for their actions, the decision...

This month, The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice [EB Docket No. 04-296] seeking comment on issues identified following the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  Although the test was regarded as successful, the Bureau is seeking comment on...

In August, the FCC issued a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise the rules for Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service ( IP CTS); addressing improper practices.  The new rules prohibit IP CTS providers from providing financial incentives or awards to entice customers to register for the service, while...

In July the Student Success Act [H.R. 5] was approved by the House of Representatives. The bill, which would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, works to reduce “the federal role in education” through State level academic and teacher assessments in addition to providing State-level grants to promote education for specific populations, such as students with limited English proficiency or students in rural areas. The Assistance...

A new bill, Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013 [S.1094], was introduced in June by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to revise the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 of which No Child Left Behind(NCLB) was the last rewrite.  By allowing States the flexibility to...

In May, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order [FCC 13-64] regarding the roll out of text-to-911, specifically requiring wireless carriers as well as providers of text messaging services to provide a “bounce-back” message to consumers when text-to-911 is not available.  The bounce-back rules become effective June 28, 2013, and are invoked under the authority of  the Twenty-first...